A thug plunged a kitchen knife into a man’s stomach when a feud with neighbours erupted in violence.

Brute Craig McAvoy, 27, will serve four years behind bars and do another two years on licence after stabbing victim Scott Anderson through the gut with the blade.

McAvoy, who has convictions for wilful fireraising and serious assault to permanent disfigurement, was banged up yesterday with a sheriff’s warning ringing in his ears.

The repeat offender appeared from custody at Paisley Sheriff Court and was told he presented such a serious risk of harm to the public that a prison sentence was the only option available to protect the community.

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He pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Anderson by striking him on the body with a knife to his severe injury.

Sheriff David Pender told him: “This was a neighbourhood dispute that got well and truly out of control.

“Obviously, I am concerned about your record.

“You have two convictions for violence on indictment at sheriff and jury level.

“I am concerned about protecting the public from harm on your release.

“Accordingly, I will impose an extended sentence of six years with a period of four years in custody backdated to May 2018.”

The sheriff added background reports identified McAvoy as a “high risk” of violent offending and he added if breached the terms of his release while on probation, he would serve the rest of his sentence in prison.